Coin-controlled vending machine



June 12, 1923. 1,458,621

H. GILES COIN CONTROLLED VENDING MACHINE Filedjune 22, 1922 INVENTOR v' ,4 //f/ @56 Patented .inne l2, i923 N i T Y l,458,2i l.

HARVEY GILEs, or BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, AssIGNoR 'ro -ARTEMAS WARD, or

NEW YORK, N.. Y.

COIN-CONTROLLED VENDING 4IlLIAGHIlG'E'..

Application filed Enne 22, 1922. Serial No. 570,100.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, HARVEY GILEs, a citizen of the United States, and a resident ot Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Coin-Controlled Vending Machines, of which the following is a specification.

K The invention pertains to means arranged at the coin entrance slot of a coin-controlled machine, as,for illustration, a vending machine, for arrestinga washer, or a coin or a"v disk with a hole in it, so that the same may not pass into the interior mechanism of the machine; but which nevertheless may be withdrawn outwardly from said arresting means and from thecoin-slot so as to leave said `coin-slot free for the entrance of proper coins. The new mechanism provided by me is located at the inner or reverse face of the coin-slot plate of the machine and at the inner end of the entrance slot therein for coins.

The washer arresting means of my invention belongs to the class of devices commonly applied to vending and other coincontrolled machines and designated as washer catchers, and the device or washer catcher of my invention is preferably constructed of two members hinged together and a leaf-spring, one ofsaid members being an elongated actuating arm having thereon av stop-lug which engages the vother member and serves to keep said members, when in their normal condition, properly spaced apart at the outer or operative portions of the same, and the other of said members beinU a washer catcher-arm normally eX- tending lengthwise along a portion or" the coin-slot and having a right angular prong or dog normally lying at one side of the coin-slot and at about the transverse middle line thereof and adapted to be projected across said slot and into the hole in a washer introduced through said slot, the parts being so constructed and arranged that a washer introduced into said slot will first engage a portion of said actuating arm and move said arm to tension s-aid spring against the washer catcher arm and thereby cause said washer catcher arm toturn toward the coin slot and project its prong or dog yieldinglyv against lthe washer and finally into the hole therein, thereloy-arrestinor the washer in the coin-slot, but permitting the washer to be withdrawn l5 5 of Fig.` 2, and

from said slot due to-.the fact that said prong or dog has an upwardly inclined or tapered lower edge.

The invention will be fully understood from the detailed description hereinafter 6l) presented, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a bottom View of a coin-slot plate and my washercatcher mechanism applied thereto, Fig 1 being partly in section on the dotted line 1-1 of Fig. 4, through the supporting casing for the washer catcher mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a like view of the same and illustrates a proper coin as being inserted through the coin-slot and the washer catcher mechanism as having been actuated by. said coin but notl arresting the same, Fig. 2 illustrating the positions` of the parts of the washer catcher mechanism when a proper coin is being inserted through the coin-slot;

Fig. 3 is a corresponding View of the same illustrating a Washer, in section, as having been introduced into the. coin-slot, the washer catcher mechanism being shown as having been actuated by the passage of the washer into the coin-slot and as having arrested the washer;

Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal section 35 through the coin-slot plate and washer catcher mechanism, taken on the dotted line 4-4 of Fig. 2; l

Fig. 5 1s a vertical transverse section through the same, taken on the dotted line Fig. 6 is a like section through the same, taken on the dotted line 6-6 of Fig. 3.

In the drawings, 10 designates the essential portion of a coin-slot plate, said plate being formed with a vertical encompassing ange'll deining between its opposite sides and ends the coin-entrance slot 12, as usual. The plate 10 is illustrative of a type of plate employed 'on machines Whose mech- 100 anism is to be manually actuated upon the passage thereto of a proper coin. The coincontrolled mechanism vof the machine is not shown, since this mechanism varies greatly and constitutes no portionof the present invention, which is confined to washer catcher mechanism applied at the lower side of the plate 104 and adjacent to the slot 12for permitting the entrance of proper coins through said slot and arresting washers or the like which it may be attempted to pass through the slot for the purpose of defeating the machine.

The washer catcher mechanism of my invention is preferably enclosed in a shallow box 13 which may be secured to the plate 10 by screws 14, and said mechanism comprises three main members, to-wit: an actuating arm 15, a washer catcher arm 16 and a leaf spring 17, said arms being bowed or curved toward each other at their shank ends and at said ends being overlapped and pivotally mounted for independent movement on a pivot stud or pin 18 secured to the bottom of the box 13.

The actuating arm 15 is elongated and extends along one side of the coin slot 12 and at its forward end has a deflected portion or member 19 which slantingly crosses one end of said slot, as shown in Fig. 1, and at such crossing 'portion yieldingly obstructs the passage through the slot of a coin, washer or the like. The arm 15 is formed near its shank end with a'stop-lug 2() which extends toward and normally engages the washer catcher arm 16 and serves to space said arms apart in the normal position of the mechanism, as shown in Fig. 1.

The washer, catcher arm 16 is less in length than the arm l5 and lies along the opposite side of the coin-slot from the arm 15. The arm 16 at its forward end lies at about the transverse middle line of the slot 12 and thereat is formed with a pointed prong or dog 21 which extends toward and stands at substantially a right angle to the said slot, the pointed end of the prong or dog normally being closely adjacent to the side edge of the slot and in position to be projected transversely across the slot and into the hole of a washer, as 22 in Figs. 3 and 6, should a washer be passed into said slot. The forward end of the arm 16 normally bears against a stop pin 23, which is rigid with the box 13 and serves to limit the movement of said arm 16 in a direction away from the slot 12. In the normal condition of the mechanism the lug 20 serves to limit the movement of the arm 16 toward the slot 12, and thus normally the arm 16 is positioned by and between the two stops 20, 23;` the stop 20 being movable with the arm 15 when said arm is moved by an inserted coin 24 or washer 22 to allow the arm 16 to turn toward the slot 12 and project'its prong or dog 21 against such Coin or washer and finally through the hole in the washer. The prong or dog 21 is reasonably pointed and has a flat upper surface and an upwardly and outwardly beveled lower surface, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the said beveled lowv er surface permitting an arrested washer to be pulled upwardly from'the coin slot and the said flat upper surface preventing an arrested Washer from being forced down through said slot. The upward pull on an arrested washer against the beveled lower surface of the prong or dog 21 results in the arm 16 being turned in a direction away from thc coin slot and in said prong or dog thereby being caused to release the washer.

The leaf spring 17 has a free end 25 which is iiexed freely against the side of the box 13 and an opposite end 26 which is rigidly secured to the arm 16, and said spring has an inward bend 27 bearing against the outer side of the arm 15, whence said spring curves around the vshank ends of the arms 15, 16 without touching the same. The spring 17 is under tension and normally presses the arm 15 to its operative position and causes the stop member 2() to press the arm 16 to its operative position against the stop 23, which arrests outward movement of said arm 16. The arm 16 and stop member 2() prevent undue inward movement of the arm 15, and hence both arms are normally held in their operative positions at the slot 12.

In-the employment of the mechanism of my invention a coin 24 introduced through the slot 12 will move against the deflected end 19 of the arm 15 and turn said arm in a direction from the slot 12 and against the bend 27 in the spring 17, thereby further tensioning said spring and withdrawing the stop 20 from the arm 16.` with the result that the arm 16 will turn toward the slot 12 and pro'ect its prong or dog 21 against the face of t e coin. The coin 2&1, not having a hole in it, may be pressed through the coin slot in opposition to the yielding force exerted against it by the prong or dog 21. When a.

washer 22 is passed into the coin slot, the

washer acts against the arm 15 the saine as did the coin 24 and said arm is turned outwardly from the slot and the arm 16 is turned toward the slot and projects its prong or dog 21 against the face of the washer. When the washer has been moved inwardlyJ far enough to carry its hole into line with the prong or dog 21, said prong or dog will be instantly driven into said. hole and across the coin slot and arrest the washer, as shown in Fig. 6. The washer 22 when arrested mav be withdrawn upwardly from the coin slot to clear the same but cannot be pressed downwardly from said slot, as hereinhefore explained.

When a proper coin 21 is being passed through the coin slot 12, the arm 16 leaves the stop 23 to a limited extent, as shown in Fig. 2, and is prevented from having further movement toward the slot 12 by the engagement ofthe prong or dog 21 with the face of thecoin. When a washer 22 is passed into the coin slot 12 the hole in the washerleaves an unobstructed passage for the prong or dorf 21 to cross said slot, as shown in Fig. 3.

fn the construction of the washer catcher mechanism of my invention, I have sought to provide a mechanism which is efficient and of such durable nature as to be capable of long public use without impairment. rIhe mechanism shown has been designed more particularly for use at the coin entrance slots of coin controlled mechanisms employed in connection with turnstiles situated in public places, as at the entrances of transit stations, at which intending passengers must deposit a five cent piece through the coin slot in order to free the turnstile and permit the passenger to turn the same and pass through.

l/Vhat I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l. In a coin-controlled machine having a plate containing a slot for the entrance of coins into the machine, Washer catcher mechanism l'ocated at the reverse side of said plate adjacent to said slot comprising an actuating arm extending along one side of said slot and pivoted at its shank end and at its iree end slantingly crossing one end of said slot to be engaged by the edge of a coin or the like introduced into said slot, a. washer catcher arm extending along the other side of said slot and pivoted at its shank end and at its free end having a prong or dog extending therefrom toward and adapted to be projected across said slot, one of said arms having a stop normally engaging the other arm to keep said arms normally spaced apart, and spring means ten-4 sioned against said actuating arm to yieldingly press the same to its operative position and against said washer catcher arm to turn it toward the coin slot when the actuating arm is turned outwardly from the slot by an introduced coin or the like.

2. In a coin-controlled machine having a plate containing a slot for the entrance of coins into the machine, washer catcher mechanism located at the reverse side ot' said plate adjaoentto said slot comprising an actuating arm extending along one side of said slot and pivoted at its shank end and at its free end slantingly crossing one end of said slot to be engaged by the edge of a coin or the like -introduced into said slot, a washer .catcher arm extending along the other side of said slot and pivoted at its shank end and at its free end having a rong or dog extending therefrom towardD and adapted to be projected across said slot, said prong or dog having a flat upper surface and an upwardly and outwardly beveled' lower surface, and spring means tensioned against said actuating arm to yieldingly press the same to its operative position and against said washer catcher arm to turn it toward the coin slot when the actuating arm is turned outwardly from the slot by an introduced coin or the like.

`3. In a coin-controlled machine having a plate containing a slot Jfor the entrance of coins into the machine, washer catcher mechanism located at the reverse side of said plate adjacent to said slot comprising an actuating arm extending along one side of said slot and pivoted at its shank end and at its free end slantingly crossing one end ot' said slot to be engaged by the edge of a coin orthe like introduced into said slot, a washer catcher arm extending along the other side of said slot and pivoted at its shank end and at its free end having a prong or dog extending therefrom toward and adapted to be projected across said slot, one of said arms having a stop normally engaging the other arm to keep said arms normally spaced apart, and spring means tensioned against said actuating arm to yieldingly press the same to its operative position and against said Washer catcher arm to turn it toward the coin slot when the actuating arm is turned outwardly from the slot by an introduced coin or the like, said spring means being a leaf-spring bearing against the outer edge of said actuating arm and thence curving around the shank ends of both said arms and secured to said washer catcher arm.

4. In a coin-controlled machine having a plate containing a slot for the entrance ot' coins into the machine, washer catcher mechanism located at the reverse side of said plate adjacent to said slot comprising an actuating arm extending along'one side of said slot and pivoted at its shank end and at its free end slantingly crossing one end` of said slot to be engaged by the edge of a coin or the like introduced into said slot, a Washer catcher arm extending along the other side of said slot and pivoted at its shank end and atits free end having a prong or dog extending therefrom toward and adapted to be projected across said slot, a stop to limit the outward movement of said washer catcher arm, said actuating arm having a stop member normally engaging said washer catcher arm to prevent inward movement thereof except when said actuating arm is moved by an introduced coin or the like and withdraws said stop member, and spring means tensioned against said actuating arm to yieldingly press the same t0 its operative position and against said washe'r catcher arm to turn it toward the coin slot when the actuating arm is turned outwardly from the slot by an introduced coin or the like.

5. In acoin-controlled machine having a -plate containing a slot for the entrance of coins to the machine, a shallow box adapted to he secured to the reverse side of said plate below said slot and washer, catcher mechanism carried by said box comprising an actuating arm extending along one side of said slot and pivoted at its shank'end and at its free end slantingly crossing one endA of said slot to be engaged by the edge of a coin or the like introduced into Asaid slot, a washer catcher arm extending along the other side of said slot and pivoted at its shank end and at its free end having a prong or dog extending therefrom toward and adapted to be projected across said slot, and spring means tensioned against said actuating arm to yieldingly press the same to its operative position and against said washer catcher arm to turn it toward the coin slot when the actuating arm is turned outwardly from the slot by an introduced coin or the like, said spring means being a leaf-spring at its free end flexed against one side of said box and thence bent inwardly and engaging the outer edge of said actuating arm and thence curving around the shank ends of both said arms and at its final end being fastened to said washer catcher arm.

6. In a coin-controlled machine having a plate containing a slot for the entrance of coins into the machine, washer catcher mechanism located at the reverse side of said plate adjacent to said slot comprising an actuating arm extending along one side of said slot and pivoted at its shank end and at its free end slantingly crossing one end of said'y slot to be engaged by the edge of a coin or the like introduced into said slot, a Washer catcher arm extending along the other side of said slot and pivoted at its'v shank end and at its free end having a prong or dog extending therefrom toward and adapted to be projected across said slot, said arms overlapping each other at their shank ends and mounted on a single pivot allowing said arms to have independent movement, means restraining said washer catcher arm from moving outwardly from normal position, means restraining said actuating arm from moving inwardly from normal position, and spring means tensio-ned against said actuating arm to yieldingly press the same toits operative position and against said Washer catcher arm to turn it toward the coin-slot when the actuating arm is turned outwardly from the slot by an introduced coin or the like.

7. In a coin-controlled machine having a plate containing a slot for the entrance of coins into the machine, washer catcher mechanism located at the reverse side of said plateadjacent to said slot comprising an actuating arm extending along one side of said slot and pivoted at its shank end and at its tree end slantingly crossing one end of said slot to be engaged by the edge ot a coin or the like introduced into said slot, a washer catcher arm extending along the other side of said slot and pivoted at its shank end and at its free end having a prong or dog extending therefrom toward and adapted to'be projected across said slot, means restraining said actuating arm from moving inwardly from normal position, means restraining said washer catcher arm from moving outwardly from normal position, and spring means tensioned against said actuating arm to yieldingly press the same to its operative position and against said washer catcher arm to turn it toward the coin slot when the actuating arm is turned outwardly from the slot by an introduced coin or the like.

Signed at New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 20th day of June, A. D. 1922.

HARVEY GILES. 

